Hot coffee and hot chops were ordered for the new comers, who, after the morning greetings, took their places at the table, and the meal progressed.
Major Fielding and Captain Ethel were then made happy with the news of Erminie’s convalescence.
“And the doctor is sure that all danger is past?” inquired Major Fielding.
“We are sure that all danger is past, but the doctor has not seen her this morning,” said Miss Conyers.
“I humbly beg your pardon, Miss,” said old Bob, who was waiting on the table. “I humbly beg your pardon, Miss, but the doctor have seen her this morning. He have been here airly, very airly indeed, Miss—in fact, before day.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed Miss Conyers, whose memory immediately reverted to Elfie’s dream, or vision, and her own—Britomarte’s—version of it.
“Yes, indeed, Miss. He rousened me up outen my sleep to let him in.”
Miss Conyers here looked archly at Elfie, whose face exhibited a curiously blended expression of mirth, relief and mortification; for she was struck with the ludicrous aspect the affair now assumed, and she was glad to have a supernatural mystery cleared up; but she was also ashamed of the part she had played in the farce.
“Do you know at what precise hour the doctor came?” inquired Miss Conyers.
“Yes, Miss. It must abeen ’bout ’tween one and two o’clock. Way I know it is this: Just arter he came down stairs, and I let him out ag’in, I heerd the hall clock strike two.”